Ty Herndon: ‘People Feel Healing Through Music’

Ty Herndon is passionate about making a difference. The country singer is doing whatever he can to spread love instead of hatred all over the world, although he admits that it's becoming an arduous task.

"Look at where we are today: We haven’t had time to mourn one thing happening, and another thing happens," Herndon tells The Boot, referencing the death of former The Voice contestant Christina Grimmie on June 10, followed by the Pulse nightclub shootings on June 12; the recent killings of two Black men, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, by police in Louisiana and Minnesota; the targeted shootings of police officers in Dallas, Texas, and Baton Rouge, La.; and terrorist attacks around the globe. "It’s been hard to turn on the news.

"I lived 14 years in Dallas, and with the shootings that just happened with the police officers, I wanted to get on a plane and just do what I can," the artist continues. "It seems like today it would be costly just getting on a plane. It’s heartbreaking where we are today."

It's no surprise, then, that Herndon jumped at the chance to be a part of the single "Hands" in response to the Pulse nightclub shootings. He, Kacey Musgraves, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Pink, Jason Derulo, Meghan Trainor and more sing on the charity single, which benefits the Equality Florida Pulse Victims Fund, the LGBT Community Center of Central Florida and GLAAD. Herndon was on vacation in Italy with his partner, Matt Collum, while the song was being put together, but he found a way to contribute nonetheless.

"I said, ‘I want to be a part of this. We’re not going to be defeated in this,'" Herndon recalls. So, Herndon and Collum drove two hours to use a studio -- only to discover that the studio didn't have any sound equipment. They went straight back to their villa and got to work.

"I got two iMax GarageBands and four iPhones, set it all up on the bed, and I didn’t even have a microphone," Herndon remembers. "I just sang it to the click track and tracked right into the GarageBand, singing in a vineyard in Italy at midnight.

"In that part of the country, it’s 60 degrees at night, so everybody’s windows are open. There’s 16 rooms in the villa, and there were 10 of our friends there. They didn’t realize what I was doing," he continues, adding with a laugh, "They thought I was just singing out the window, so I would go, ‘Hands,’ and they’re all singers, so you’d hear people singing, 'Hands.'"

Since its release, "Hands," which hit No. 1 on both the iTunes and Amazon charts, has been a gift that keeps on giving. Herndon has recorded a solo version of the tune, and he's involved with an Orlando benefit event at the end of July.

"I’m hoping to also get involved with whatever the people in Dallas need, because it’s one of my hometowns," Herndon adds. "If music can heal and help people, then all of us in country music are always willing to be a part of it."

He concludes, "I like to put a positive note on anything that’s so tragic. The music community has always, and I feel like always will, step up and do great projects to help the families and help the healing start. People feel healing through music."